The 5 messiest rooms and how to clean them

(BPT) – From decorating, shopping, cooking and cleaning, there’s a lot to do during the holiday season. Time is running out to get it all done before your next big gathering, and you may be thinking, “where do I even start?” Merry Maids, the nation’s largest home cleaning company, is making it simple by sharing the easiest ways to clean the messiest spaces in your home this holiday season.

1. Inside your oven

Between roasting turkey and baking pies, your oven will see seen a lot of action. Let your oven racks clean themselves overnight. Remove the oven racks, place them into large plastic trash bags and spray them generously with a degreaser solution. Let them sit overnight in a ventilated area away from pets, children and other hazards. The following morning, remove the oven racks from the plastic bags, rinse them in the sink with warm, soapy water and wipe them dry. Wipe down the inside of your oven with a microfiber cloth, then slide in your newly cleaned oven racks.

2. Carpets and rugs

From footprints to spilled wine drops, your rugs take a beating during all the holiday festivities. With any stain, make sure to tackle it right away and blot the stain with a paper towel or microfiber cloth to remove excess liquid. Even if the stain has been lingering, mix one tablespoon of liquid dish soap with two cups of cool water and one tablespoon of white vinegar. Using a clean microfiber cloth, dip it in the cleaning solution and blot the stain.

3. Toilet

Hosting families and friends means your bathroom works overtime. Surprisingly, vinegar is perfect for cleaning the hard-water deposits in your toilet bowl. Pour a cup of white vinegar and a few fizzy denture tablets into the toilet bowl and let it sit overnight. The following morning, scrubbing will require less time and less elbow grease.

4. Windows

Kitchen windows are an unexpected place for grease and grime buildup, but heavy cooking and baking can do a number on them. Rather than reach for a cleaning product, make your own. Mix one cup of rubbing alcohol with one cup of water and add a tablespoon of white wine vinegar. You’ll be looking outside at the snow through a grease- and fingerprint-free window!

5. Refrigerator

Refrigerators are home to lots of meals throughout the holidays, so now is the perfect opportunity to refresh yours. A quick and easy trick: place an orange peel filled with salt in the refrigerator to deodorize it and help keep the fridge smelling clean and fresh. Just cut an orange in half, scoop out the pulp, fill the rind with salt and place it in a bowl at the back of the refrigerator. Replace as needed!

If you’re taking on cleaning your home (whether before or after the holiday season) and need a time-saving tip, or lifesaving stain removal tip (even if it’s a stain from last year’s celebration), Merry Maids is here to help. Ask the experts via Facebook or Twitter, using #SeasonsCleanings in your question, and Merry Maids will share its best tips and tricks to get your home in order.

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